Page 3 of Shifted

"Wait." Halting, he turns his attention back to me. I felt like a lousy friend for failing to ask earlier. He’d failed to mention his fulfilled plans from the other night, leaving me curious. "So, how did things go with Kaden?" I was eager to hear about this date because they'd been disastrous recently, but for some reason, he kept returning.

"Yeah, it's over…" He grimaced, “She did a Bill Belichick impression, and I already had one foot out the door," I sucked in my lips as the feeling of laughter burdened my insides, but he could see it.

"So, it's over?" I poked fun as he sighed, shaking his head.

"It never really started, and you are delaying this lunch?" He noted, stepping away slowly to escape the rest of the conversation. He initially enjoyed Kaden’s company, but over time, her ideas tended to be more turbulent than steady. Last I heard, she blew all her money on unaffordable expenses and expected Lucas to pay for the rest after a few dates.

"Bye, Hope." I heard him lightly as I walked down the hall towards the silver elevators. Stepping inside, I quickly slid my folded tan wool coat over my arms, partnering it with my briefcase.

As I saw my co-worker Cathy b-line for the elevator, like the ass hole, I am. I began to jam my thumb into the close button until it did. I didn’t have time for her conversations. I tapped my foot in the space to the noise of the monotone music and soon reached ground level.

Slipping out, I stepped into the lobby and toward the front doors, where the smell of fresh rain greeted my nose. It was cold and wet today in Boston, as it usually is in mid-October, but I felt that fall was New England's most cherished season as the fall colors bloomed in the trees.

?

“Sorry!” I have repeated these words multiple times at this point to the many other limbs I've hit on the street. I was expecting someone to grab me by the hair and yank me back momentarily as I raced through Copley Square. I saw the dark blue sign that said Ellen’s in the distance.

When I finally reached it, I quickly entered, escaping the rain as it began to pour. I shook off my raincoat at the entrance and attempted to fix my now wet and gross hair.

"Do you have a reservation?" the hostess asked as I stepped in. I politely pointed to Bella, who was waiting for me, and she waved her hand to signal me over. She looked more put together than I did, but that's how it usually went. Her raven curls almost looked shiny from a distance, and her lips formed a bright smile as I drew closer.

"Wow, you look out of breath.” She mumbled and then stood, pulling me in for a tight hug.

"Yeah, I just ran a marathon in the rain to get here." Sliding into the booth, Bella handed me a white card stock menu. I shrugged off my jacket as I relaxed into the seat, glancing over the menu.

"Glad you could make it, especially since it’s urgent.”

Guilt laced the insides of my stomach, and I felt terrible not always being able to be there. I loved Arabella wholeheartedly. We'd been friends since our sophomore year of high school. We were both sixteen, and she’d transferred from a neighboring school, having nowhere to sit. So, having little to no friends, I offered her the seat next to me, and ten years later, here we are. But we aren't children anymore, and we have separate lives. I felt distanced in unintentional ways, but my life simply swamped me.

"Look, I'm sorry I’ve been so busy in Boston. I have a job, and Joely-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know you're an adult." She smirked, "I’m proud of you." Her hand reaches for mine in reassurance, "Don't apologize. I wasn't being salty like Kendall; I just miss you." Slouching back into my seat, the pit in my stomach grew in size.

"I'm a bad friend,” I call myself out at the mention of Kendall. Because I can’t even remember the last time I had hung out with her besides when she’d take Joely.

"Not at all. You're a kick-ass friend." She teased, "Come on, just because you're busy doesn't mean you're bad, and it's understandable. You’ve been working hard at the firm. Ignore Kendall; she just misses you." But all the negative thoughts disappeared as a sparkle blinded my eyes. A diamond ring was set on her finger as she clutched the menu.

Oh my god.

"Bella..." She sucked in her lips, trying to hold back her beaming grin. She didn’t even have to say what I already knew, and I couldn’t believe it.

"It happened last night,” I gasped in delight at her words as my eyes watered.

"Grayson finally stepped up?" I teased, but my gaze couldn’t stray away from the beautiful diamond strapped to her finger. It was the prettiest rock I’d ever seen; I couldn’t believe it. Goosebumps laced my skin in excitement—my best friend was getting married.

"Yeah, well, it has been five years. I feared I would soon have to knock some sense into him!" She tilted her finger at me as I stared at it.

"Wow, you're getting married, Arabella.” Shock filled my voice. It was official: We were truly adults. I’d been one for a while, and I had to be. But this made it all surreal; it was one of those big moments of our friendship I’d remember forever. The smell of waffles, the glare of the diamond, and the light sound of a Gracie Abrams song playing in the back.

"Hence, lunch and the urgency. I knew I would see you, but I needed to ensure it was before everyone else knew." She reached into her purse, handing me a box. But it was not just any box. It was a Tiffany’s one.

"Arabella," I pushed the box back towards her. "I can't. I don't even want to open it.” Whatever was inside the box, I couldn’t dare accept. I had my own money. She was getting married and needed to save, so spending something absurd on me felt wrong.

"You have to. It’s already purchased, and there are no returns." I knew that wasn’t true, but I wasn’t winning with her. So I sighed and untied the white ribbon to see a bracelet with a charm stating three letters: M.O.H.

"My other half?" I joked.

"Maid of honor," She corrects and lifts the bracelet from my hands. It was silver, and the chain was delicate with the gold charm on the side of it. It felt like an emotional moment. Because it’s almost as if we were just two young teens fooling around yesterday, and now, she’d be walking down the aisle. We’d grown into two tenacious individuals who had to learn how to defend ourselves at younger ages. But Bella was always by my side and would go above and beyond in ways.

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